NEXT month, the country’s newly formed National Masters Hockey Side will make its inaugural appearance at the World Indoor Masters World Cup in Nottingham, England.

The 2024 edition of the tournament, organised by the World Masters Hockey is set for March 28 to April 1.
Head of the Guyana Hockey Board Phillip Fernandes, who will lead the country’s delegation says plans are well underway.
According to Fernandes, training is ongoing with selection to be done by the end of this week.

Guyana will field a male team in the over 45 category which Fernandes, ab FIH (International Hockey Federation) coach says will be balanced to give a good account on their first dive into the tournament.
‘It’s likely to comprise people who are locally based and some who are overseas but all of whom have learnt the majority of their hockey right here in Guyana.’

Fernandes told Guyana Chronicle that the board has in the past staved off interest in the masters but it is something that has been gaining momentum and is steadily becoming a mainstay on the world scene.

He added, “In international hockey there are several trends with sports moving towards a shorter formats of the game, or indoor version of the game, 3×3 basketball, futsal, and t20 cricket likewise there is heightened interest in indoor hockey and a lot of activity in older age groups, so master tournaments are becoming very popular.”

The upcoming hockey world cup features male and female national teams from around the globe competing in the over 35, over 40, over 45, over 50, over 55 and over 60 age groups.

Guyana will come up against teams from Germany, France, England, Canada, Bangladesh, Australia and Wales when the cup bullies off at the David Ross Sport Village at the University of Nottingham Park in the United Kingdom.